We Finally Got It

[lv4dogs]

How would you recommend conditioning her to being used to being in it?? I don't want to ONLY put her in it when I leave because that will teach her that when she goes in, I leave. Should I put her in periodically during the day while I'm home too? Should I cover it? Leave it uncovered? Leave a TV/radio on?

When I am home and she is inside, should I tell her "NO" for barking/whining or ignore completely?

Yes, putting her in there for a few minutes at a time when you are home should help, so will feeding her in it. ALWAYS make it a happy safe place.

I wouldn't really cover it unless she starts barking a lot and only leave it covered if it actually helps with the barking. And I;d only leave a radio/tv on if you are FOR sure that it won't go into static noise or have any other problems that may irritate your dog. If you do decide to leave it on then leave it on a very low volume level.

As far as telling her no or ignoring her, I guess you could do it either way. Personally at first I would try to ignore her. Because if you tell her no & she listens to you, but then she barks when you are not there, no one tells her no she may think it is ok to bark and bark and bark and bark. Of course if she is barking a LOT you may need to resort to the NO.

[Jessika]

Well we have a game we played... I am trying to associate "in" and "crate" with her going into the crate. Once in, I get REALLYYYYY EXCITED and close the door, and continue staying excited. Then I take treats and drop them down from the top of the crate. This is with the door closed.

Another game I play is I will leave the door open and start playing with a toy and get her attention, then toss it in the crate. When she enters the crate to retrieve it, I get REALLY excited.

So I shouldn't cover it unless I really feel the need to, alrighty. Annnd I think I will try to ignore her as much as possible, I told her one sharp "NO!" and she stopped barking/whining/digging instantly. When she calms down I will go get her and get very excited and let her out.

And Bob's Dad, Jamie and Charlie were not the ones peeing on the bed, it was our roommate's dog Peanut who was doing that, marking in the house, pooping in the house.... I think it was him that led Jamie to pee in the house as much as she did, maybe she was marking to cover him, I don't know. Because we had a friend over with another chi mix who marked in the corner Peanut would ALWAYS mark at, and Jamie didn't do anything, so I think it was just Peanut LOL The only problems I had with Jamie is that she would get very destructive when we would leave the house out of boredom. No matter how well we tried to puppy proof the house, every time she would find the ONE thing we forgot, or just be really bad and go straight for our brand new couch. lol

[lv4dogs]

I would not get excited when you let her out, then she thinks that being let out is SO MUCH fun, she may start to act up in the crate, barking, scratching, trying to get out, etc.. & who wouldn't when there's all that excitment when you get let out.

I would treat it just like anything else, if you follow the NILIF rules I would make her obey a command before she exits the crate, if not that just let her out like it is a normal everyday thing. Don't act excited, don;t act dissapointed, just act normal.

Personally I like to leave the crate uncovered if possible, for obvious reasons, there is more air circulation.

And you are on the right track, never ler her out if she is behaving in a manor that is not acceptable.